WINDOWS Part 4 – Components of Computers

WINDOWSPart 4 – Components of Computers

A World of Computers • Computer Literacy • Knowledge and understanding of computers and their uses • Computers are everywhere

Computer Applications in Society • How are computers used in society? • Education • Finance • Government • Health Care • Science • Publishing • Travel • Manufacturing

What Is a Computer? • Computer – an electronic device, operating under the control of instructions stored in its own memory, that can: • process the data according to specified rules (processor) • accept data (input) • produce results (output) • store the results (storage) for future use

What Does a Computer Do? • The four basic operations compromise the Information Processing Cycle

Processor • Processor– interprets and carries out the basic instructions that operate a computer • Called Central Processing Unit (CPU) • The brains of the computer • Measured in hertz • Control Unit – interprets the instructions • Arithmetic/Logic Unit – performs the logical and arithmetic processes

Units of Speed(characters processed per second) • Hertz– approximately 1 character • Kilohertz– approximately 1,000 characters • Megahertz– approximately 1,000,000 characters (1 million) • Gigahertz– approximately 1,000,000,000 characters (1 billion) • Terahertz – approximately 1,000,000,000,000 characters (1 trillion)

Memory • Memory– consists of electronic components that store data, instructions, and information, as needed by the processor • Measured in bytes • RAM– Random Access Memory • Holds the instructions, programs, information you input • Will be lost if not saved (Measured in bytes) • ROM – Read Only Memory • Can be read but not modified (system files)

Units of Memory • Byte– approximately 1 character • Kilobyte – approximately 1,000 characters • Megabyte– approximately 1,000,000 characters (1 million) • Gigabyte– approximately 1,000,000,000 characters (1 billion) • Terabyte – approximately 1,000,000,000,000 characters (1 trillion)

Storage Devices • Used to store instructions, data, and information when they are not being used in memory

Magnetic Disks • Magnetic disks use magnetic particles to store items on a disk’s surface • Floppy disks • Zip disks • Hard disks

Optical Discs • Optical discs • CD-ROM • CD-R • CD-RW • DVD-ROM • DVD-R • DVD+R • DVD-RW • DVD+RW • DVD+RAM • Tape

Miniature MobileStorage • Miniature mobile storage media

Flash Drives • Small, removable storage devices that range from 64 MB to 64 GB • Integrated with a USB interface

System Unit • The processor, memory & storage devices are housed in a box-like case called the system unit

Input Devices • Any hardware component that allows you to enter data, programs, commands, and user responses into a computer • Input Device Examples: • Keyboard • Mouse • Web Cam • Scanner • Camera

Output Devices • Output devices make the information resulting from processing available for use • Output Device Examples • Printers (dpi/ppm) • Impact (dot matrix) • Photo (inkjet/bubble jet) • Nonimpact (laser) • Display Devices • CRT • LCD

Components of a Computer

WINDOWS Part 4 – Components of Computers